On February 14, 1988, a Cessna 305A (L-19) (registration N5173G) was involved in an aviation accident near Jean, NV. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft entered a steep climb and left turn after takeoff, then stalled and impacted ground near runway. Investigation found flaps set at 60°, exceeding the cockpit placard's 30° maximum. No pre-impact malfunctions were found.
Accident Details
Witnesses observed the accident aircraft initiate a 45-degree climb attitude immediately after liftoff. The aircraft climbed to approximately 200 feet above ground level and then entered a left turn. During the turn, the aircraft appeared to stall, with a wing dropping and the nose falling through. The aircraft subsequently impacted terrain approximately 100 yards left of the runway.
Examination Findings
Post-accident examination revealed that the flaps were set at 60 degrees. The cockpit placard specifies a maximum flap setting of 30 degrees for takeoff. No evidence was found of any pre-impact malfunction or failure in the aircraft's structure, powerplant, or systems.
Witness Accounts
A witness who was in an accompanying aircraft reported that the accident aircraft had also executed a previous takeoff that same day with the flaps set at 60 degrees. No other witness statements regarding the accident sequence were provided.